Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Why Its Launch Fell Short

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold arrives in a foldable market where competitors have matured considerably. After a week of using Google’s latest device, my initial optimism has faded into mixed impressions. There are clear strengths, but several issues prevent it from standing out.

In a recent comparison I called the Pixel 11 Pro Fold the fourth-best foldable you can buy right now in the US market, behind Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Fold 8 Ultra, and the Motorola Razr Fold. That still feels accurate: Google faces a steep climb to match the fit, finish, and polish of those rivals.

Overall, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like it’s a generation or two behind in some respects, and it lacks a decisive advantage that would make it the obvious choice over competing foldables.

Here are the positives from my first week with the device:

“App Handles” is an excellent improvement for multitasking on a foldable. It might be the best evolution of multitasking I’ve seen on foldables since the OnePlus Open’s Open Canvas feature.
Google’s software on the Pixel remains one of the cleanest and most polished experiences available. The interface and features are a major reason I want Pixel software on my main foldable.
Built-in Qi2 wireless charging is a welcome addition after using a phone with a clumsy metal charging ring on the back. It simplifies daily charging and is more convenient overall.
Durability has been reassuring so far. Google’s claims about the ceramic display and overall build have held up in my testing; I haven’t found any scuffs on the ceramic surface.
The Tensor G6 chipset is a meaningful upgrade for a Pixel foldable. Even during hot days, this is the first Google foldable I haven’t felt was prone to overheating.

That said, a few significant drawbacks are holding the Pixel 11 Pro Fold back.

First is the hardware design. In terms of fit and finish, Google trails the competition. The phone’s thickness and blocky aesthetic don’t feel as refined in the hand compared with Samsung’s Fold 8 series, which despite being only marginally thinner feels noticeably better. The Motorola Razr Fold also manages to feel more comfortable despite sharing similar thickness numbers. Additionally, the two halves of the Pixel have unequal thicknesses, creating an unusual ridge where they meet. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it looks and feels odd compared to more symmetrical foldable designs.

I have minor grievances about the cameras and the visible display crease, but those are not major issues for me personally. The bigger concern has been battery life.

Battery performance on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has been disappointing. With a roughly 4,700 mAh battery, real-world endurance falls short of other modern foldables. Samsung’s Fold 8 is not dramatically better on paper, but its efficient chipset and smaller displays result in a device that reliably lasts a day. In contrast, I’ve had multiple evenings where the Pixel needed to be plugged in by early evening to avoid aggressive power-saving modes. I’m hopeful the phone will learn my usage patterns and improve with time, but initial battery life is underwhelming. On the positive side, Google’s “Extreme Charging Mode” provides noticeably faster charging when needed, though it doesn’t fully compensate for limited battery capacity.

There are signs of improvement, however: battery performance has slightly improved across days as the phone adapts to my usage.

I’ll reserve final judgment until the full review, but first impressions are mixed. The review process was also interrupted when my initial unit produced a faint popping sound from the hinge, prompting a replacement. I don’t yet know if that was an isolated defect or something that will appear in retail units.

If there’s anything specific you want to know about the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, leave a comment and I’ll try to cover it in the full review next week.

More on Pixel 11 Pro Fold: